‘Anchorman 3′ Will Never Happen, Says Director Adam McKay

Although 'Anchorman 2' wasn't groundbreaking at the box office even being a more moderately budgeted comedy, it did make significantly more than its beloved 2004 predecessor. So, could there be an 'Anchorman 3' somewhere down the line? As far as co-writer and director Adam McKay is concerned ... No. Never. Ever.

Of course, McKay doesn't regret making 'Anchorman 2' and he makes it clear that, while it was great to return to the world of Ron Burgundy with Will Ferrell and the rest of the cast, it's definitely time to retire the character. Speaking with Empire during a recent interview:

It’s done. I think that’s it. It was great to do it and it was so fun to work with those guys again, but I think that’s it for Ron Burgundy. ... I’m going to say definitely no. I’ll actually say it in this case!

When asked if any other sequels were in the works, like the long-rumored sequel to 'Step Brothers,' McKay emphasized that he's out of the sequel business altogether and that nothing else in his filmography will have a "2" or "3' in the title:

No, that’s the last sequel we’re gonna do. There’s nothing more fun to me than new characters and a new world. And now we’re releasing this alt version, we’re totally satisfied. No Anchorman 3.

McKay is, of course, referring the upcoming alternate cut of 'Anchorman 2,' which will run in select theaters and feature 700 additional jokes, giving fans a whole new experience. We can't blame the McKay -- if we spent years writing, shooting and editing two different versions of a movie starring Ron Burgundy, we'd be done with him, too. Not to mention the fact that someone as funny and smart as McKay should be allowed to go out and bring his original ideas to the big screen rather than just recycle what worked before.

There you have it. 'Anchorman 3' is never going to be a thing ... at least with McKay in the director's seat.